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Performance of Solar Shading Devices

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This Update describes results of research on several types of window shading devices and their potential to reduce heating and cooling energy consumption and improve conditions that affect occupant comfort. The information provides guidance in the selection of shading devices for particular housing types and energy cost situations.

Optimum window selection is dependent on the location of the building and the prevailing climate. For heating-dominated climates as in Canada, windows with high solar heat gain coefficients and low U-factors are appropriate choices. Solar shading devices can be used to further enhance window performance to varying degrees.

Shading devices have historically been used to decorate windows, provide privacy, and reduce glare and summer overheating. Recent studies by the NRC Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC) sought to clarify the extent to which shading devices can reduce energy demand for heating and cooling, balance thermal loads to reduce peaks, and improve the thermal environment for people sitting near windows. The research also considered the potential risk for condensation on windows (especially conventional windows in old house construction), and excessive thermal stresses on glass in summer (especially for modern, high-performance windows).

Study Details

The NRC-IRC studies were done using the model houses of the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) for two types of house construction (insulation values for house envelopes and air leakage rates):

Current construction based on the R-2000 standard, which is tight and typically uses low-e, double-glazed sealed units.

The study compared the performance of houses equipped with typical interior blinds (base case), with houses employing other shading devices. The performance of houses without shading devices was also included in the comparison.

The shading devices investigated were:

Interior, typical blinds

Interior, reflective blinds (with a surface that reflects sunlight)

Interior, reflective roller screens

Between-pane, metallic reflective blinds

Exterior insulating rollshutters

Exterior screens

In addition, old construction was combined with high-performance windows, and current construction with conventional windows to represent renovated houses. Current construction was combined with super windows (such as triple-glazed units with low-e coatings) to represent cases of future low-energy or net-zero energy houses.

Following validation of some scenarios at the CCHT, estimates of energy savings for all the various window and shading combinations were developed using whole-building computer simulations for Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Peak cooling power demand and payback periods were also estimated based on local energy costs (Table 1) and material costs (Table 2).

Table 1. Types and costs of fuels used for house heating1

Ottawa

Montreal

Winnipeg

Halifax

Type of heating

Natural gas

Electricity

Natural gas

Oil

Fuel cost

$0.045 per kWh
( $0.47 per m3)

$0.077 per kWh

$0.035 per kWh
( $0.37 per m3)

$0.103 per kWh
($1.09 per litre)

Electricity cost

$0.11 $ per kWh

$0.077 per kWh

$0.074 per kWh

$0.123 per kWh

1. Energy costs in effect in June 2009.

Table 2. Cost of shading devices studied1

Type of shading
device

Interior aluminum
blinds (1” slats)

Interior screens

Exterior screens

Exterior insulating
rollshutters

Total cost

$1,061

$2,182 to $8,454

$11,393

$15,332

Unit cost

$35 per m2

$72 to $282 per m2

$376 per m2

$506 per m2

1. Costs are for economical brands priced in June 2009 to equip the CCHT research house.

Interior typical blinds

These have either vertical or horizontal slats (Venetian blinds) and are made of various colours and materials (e.g., metal, plastic, wood). Blinds with metal slats were used as the base case and had the following characteristics:

When closed (slat angle = 75o), the blinds may reduce solar heat gains by 40% with high-performance windows and 50% with conventional windows, compared to unshaded windows. They have no noticeable effect on heat loss and on condensation on the interior window surfaces. This is because the air space between the blinds and the window is naturally ventilated at the side, top and bottom ends, and to a slight extent, through the deliberate openings left between the slats.

Compared to unshaded windows, typical interior blinds are not cost-effective in terms of heating energy savings, but they may reduce cooling energy use and cost, and on-peak cooling power demand by up to 12%.

Interior reflective blinds

The characteristics of the interior reflective (Venetian) blinds tested are as follows:

Enclosed air space between blinds and window is assumed partially open at the top, bottom and side sections;

Blind distance to window = 160 mm.

When open, interior reflective blinds do not significantly affect view-out, daylight admission, solar heat gain (when sunbeam light is normal to the window plane) and heat loss. When closed, they can effectively reduce solar heat gain from 53% (with high-performance windows) to 63% (with conventional windows) when compared to unshaded windows. They have no noticeable effect on heat loss or condensation.

Compared to typical interior blinds, interior reflective blinds are effective shading devices, particularly to reduce cooling energy use and cost (up to 15%), and on-peak cooling power demand (7% on average). However, they are not cost-effective compared to typical interior blinds.

Interior reflective roller screens

Interior roller screens are common shading devices used to control solar heat gain and view-out (or privacy). They are made from various fabrics, colours and openness factors, and some may be reflective. The characteristics of the reflective roller screens studied are as follows:

Enclosed air space between screen and window is assumed partially open at the top, bottom and sides:

Screen distance to window = 160 mm.

These shadings (the reflective surface faces the outside) can cause glass breakage due to excessive temperature differences between the centre and edge of glass, especially if they are mounted inside the frames of high-performance windows and the air space between the shade and the window is sealed. Therefore, the air space should be left open to ensure natural or forced ventilation.

The perforated screens provide an acceptable view-out through windows, particularly when the windows are not exposed to direct sunlight (e.g., north-facing windows). Direct sunlight (e.g., south-facing windows) slightly impairs the view through the windows owing to the light scattering effect of the screens (haze < 0.1). Reflective screens do not result in excessive risk of high glass temperatures and breakage if they are mounted on the walls of the window opening with a sufficient air gap between the shading device and the wall to allow for natural or mechanical ventilation. However, they may increase the risk of condensation on the interior surfaces of the windows.

Compared to typical interior blinds, interior reflective close-weave screens (with low-emissivity coating on the reflective surface) are effective shading devices, particularly in reducing annual cooling energy use and cost (by up to 25%) and on-peak cooling power demand (by 13% on average), without a negative effect on heating energy use.

Between-pane metallic reflective blinds

Between-pane blinds are sometimes used in commercial buildings but rarely in houses. The study assessed the performance of windows with metallic reflective, white (solar reflectance of 70%) blind systems when the blinds are open (slats horizontal) and closed (slats rotated by 89o). The other characteristics of the between-pane reflective blinds studied are as follows:

In an open position, the blinds do not significantly affect window performance, particularly view-out, daylight admission, solar heat gain (when sunbeam light is normal to the window plane) and heat loss. When closed, they effectively reduce solar heat gain from 68% to 83% compared to unshaded windows. For heat loss control, metal blinds are better when used with conventional windows (the U-factor is reduced by more than 15% compared to unshaded windows); they have no noticeable effect when they are used with high-performance windows. Metal slats may result in undesirable thermal bridging between the interior and the exterior window panes, particularly when the slats are horizontal.

Compared to typical interior blinds, between-pane reflective metallic blinds are not energy-efficient or cost-effective devices. They increase the annual heating energy use and cost (by up to 16%), particularly when used with high-performance windows, despite their significant potential to reduce cooling energy use (by more than 40%) and on-peak cooling power demand (35% on average). When the indoor air temperature is fixed at 21oC, between-pane blinds increase the risk of condensation on the interior surfaces of both conventional and high-performance windows.

If metallic blinds have to be integrated in windows, they should be used with triple glazing, and drawn up when open (instead of drawn down with slats horizontal) to reduce the effect of thermal bridging and to increase the solar heat gain in winter. The use of blinds with plastic or fibreglass materials is recommended.

Exterior insulating rollshutters

Insulating rollshutters are not commonly used in Canadian residences despite their potential to reduce energy use. The characteristics of the rollshutters studied are as follows:

When rollshutters are closed, they completely block the admission of sunlight and the view-out. They improve thermal conditions near the windows, e.g., interior window surface temperatures are several degrees higher than with typical interior blinds). When rollshutters are closed at night, they significantly reduce the risk of condensation on the interior surfaces of both conventional and high-performance windows.

Compared to typical interior blinds, when used with conventional double clear windows, rollshutters may, on average, reduce annual heating energy use by 7%, cooling energy use by more than 40%, and on-peak cooling power demand by 30%. Therefore, they are worth considering when renovating old houses with conventional windows, particularly in regions where the risk of ice build-up is low (so that their operation is not hindered). Exterior rollshutters are expensive and their payback period is long, often exceeding their lifespan.

Windows with exterior screens

Exterior screen shadings are not commonly used in Canadian residences. The characteristics of the screens studied are as follows:

0.53-mm PVC coated fibreglass yarns;

Screen openness factor = 5%;

Employed with side rails and rubber gaskets;

Enclosed air space is assumed not sealed due to perforation;

Screen distance to window = 180 mm;

Colour = charcoal (opaque material with solar reflectance = 5%).

When closed, exterior screen shadings are effective in reducing the potential for solar radiation damage to exposed skin and furniture, solar overheating in summer, and heat loss in winter. They also effectively control window glare without significantly impairing view-out during daytime. They may significantly reduce the risk of condensation on the interior surfaces of windows.

Exterior screens may reduce solar heat gains by more than 80% compared to unshaded windows. When used with conventional windows, these screens may reduce the window U-factor by 25% to 32%. When used with high-performance windows the U-factor reduction may vary from 12% to 24%. Exterior screens have effects similar to exterior rollshutters with regard to house energy use and condensation on the interior surfaces of windows.

Payback Periods

Payback periods for the shading devices studied are shown in Table 3. Although the payback periods are long, it is important to remember that shading devices are installed for many reasons in addition to energy savings. These include window decoration, control of privacy, glare and summer overheating, and furniture fading protection. So, where shading devices are desired, the payback periods can be reviewed to see where costs can be minimized.

Peak Cooling Power Demand

Peak cooling power demand (the maximum power used by the cooling system – air conditioner and circulation fan – during the hottest day of the cooling season to maintain comfortable conditions indoors) is one of the criteria for the selection of an efficient fenestration system.

When compared with unshaded windows, typical interior blinds reduced on-peak (from 11 AM to 5 PM) cooling power demand by 9% (average) for old houses with conventional double clear windows, and by 7% (average) for R-2000 houses with double clear low-e windows. When compared with typical interior blinds in old houses, exterior rollshutters reduced on-peak cooling power demand by 30% on average, followed by between-pane reflective blinds at 27%; exterior screens at 22%; interior reflective screens at 13%; and interior reflective blinds at 7%. For R-2000 houses, exterior rollshutters reduced the on-peak cooling power demand by 39% on average, followed by between-pane reflective blinds at 35%; exterior screens at 33%; interior reflective screens at 13%; and interior reflective blinds at 7%.

Table 3. Simple payback periods for shading devices (in years)

Shading Type

Ottawa

Montreal

Winnipeg

Halifax

Old houses

R-2000 houses

Old houses

R-2000 houses

Old houses

R-2000 houses

Old houses

R-2000 houses

Interior reflective blinds

NCE (1)

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

Interior reflective screens

22 (2)

53

18

39

32

63

16

57

Between-pane reflective blinds (3)

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

NCE

Exterior screens

72

103

65

98

92

136

38

83

Exterior rollshutters

74

115

69

97

94

145

40

78

1. NCE means the shading device is not cost-effective (negative payback period) from an energy-saving standpoint.
2. Payback period is for the most economical product.
3. The cost of between-pane blinds is assumed to be equal to that of interior blinds.

Implications for Users

Shading devices are used for many reasons – many of them unrelated to energy savings. However, understanding how different shading devices affect summer and winter energy use means more appropriate selections can be made. The energy savings and payback periods calculated in the study are based on capital and fuel costs in summer 2009. As fuel costs continue to increase and time-of use electricity prices become more common, the payback period for the more advanced shading devices will likely become shorter. The selection of a shading and window system often requires trade-offs between energy performance, cost, visual and thermal comfort, and aesthetic considerations. The results of this NRC-IRC research provide specifiers and purchasers of shading devices with additional information upon which to base decisions.

Performance Indicators for Window and Shading Systems
While there are well-established performance measures for clear-glass windows, new measures are needed for window and shading systems.

View-Out Index (VOI)
VOI is the visibility through a fenestration system from inside to outside under given indoor and outdoor lighting conditions during daytime. VOI ≈ 1 applies to windows with clear glazing and VOI ≈ 0 applies to windows with fully translucent (no see-through) glazing.

Moisture Condensation Indicator
Some types of screens can lower window glass temperatures and therefore the possibility of increased condensation must be considered.

Light Diffusion Index
The light diffusion index indicates the visibility or privacy provided by a fenestration system. Windows with clear glazing have values close to zero, whereas windows with fully translucent glazing (no see-through) have values close to 1.

Fading Transmittance
Fading transmittance indicates the ability of a window shading system to reduce the fading of fabric.

Conclusions

The main points from the research can be summarized as follows:

Windows with typical interior blinds (the most widely used shading devices in Canada) are not energy-efficient nor cost-effective in terms of annual energy savings compared to unshaded windows, but they may reduce cooling energy use and cost (by up to 12%), and on-peak cooling power demand (by up to 12%).

Exterior insulating rollshutters and screens are the most effective shading devices for reducing heating and cooling energy use, on-peak cooling power demand, and the risk of condensation on the interior surfaces of windows. They also improve thermal comfort conditions near windows.

Exterior rollshutters and screens are more effective when used with conventional windows than with high-performance windows. This means they are worth considering for renovating old houses with conventional windows.